Two-time Olympian Donohue to guide British judo towards Rio

05 March 2013 / 20:29

Former European champion Nigel Donohue has been charged with bettering British judo's London 2012 performance in Rio.

Donohue succeeds Daniel Lascau as performance director after working on the support staff at last year's games, where Gemma Gibbons won Team GB's first Olympic medal in 12 years with her memorable under-78 kg silver.

The 43-year old - who competed for Great Britain at two Olympics and finished seventh at the 1996 Games in Atlanta - takes over with immediate effect and will lead the national team at next month's European Championships and this summer's World Championships in Rio.

He said: "I always set very high standards for myself and in turn aim to develop a professional environment and systematic programme in which our elite athletes can thrive and continually achieve at the highest level, both in Rio 2016 but also in bringing through the next generation of athletes for 2020 and beyond.

“There is no doubt the role is going demand everything that I have and more, but hard work is the only way to be successful and it will be the same for everyone involved.

"Our success will be a team effort and it will be important to instil extremely high standards for everyone to adhere to.

“I am under no illusions of what this role takes to be successful, but the challenge ahead is what elite performers thrive on and I expect that all involved from clubs and home country programmes to the GB Performance Programme, will feel the same.

"It is going to be a huge effort to create the success that we all crave for British Judo.”

Donohue is the latest in a succession of new faces at British Judo following last year's Olympics, starting with the arrival of new chairman Kerrith Brown.

Meanwhile, Andrew Scoular has been confirmed as the organisation's new chief executive, after filling the role on an interim basis following the departure of Scott McCarthy last October.